Needle-bar controlling device for sewing machines



June 8 1926. v 1,588,030

J. KERR NEEDLE BAR CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES ATTORN EY June 8 ,1 926. 11,588,030

J. KERR i NEEDLE BAR CONTROLLING DEVICE 'FOR' SEWING IACHINES 2 'sheets-sheet a Filed August 2e. 1924,

glmf/ Patented Jupe s, 1926.

4vuNirED STATES PATENT y oFFiCE.

JOHN KEER,l or MOUNT HEALTHY, OHIO, AssIGNon To TEE siNeEE MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, or ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

.NEEDLE-BAR CONTROLLING DEVICE-FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application led Angustv26, 1924. Serial No. 734,177.

This invention relatesto improvements in multiple-needle sewing machines, and particularly to that class of'machines in which means are provided for throwing one of the needles temporarily outof action .during the continued reciprocation ofthe other needle or needles, as exemplified for instance by the two-needle sewing machines of my prior patent reissued Dec. et, 1900, under No..11,876.

Multiple needle machines of thischaraeter are particularly advantageous in theproduction of angular seamsconstituted by two independent rows ot' stitches. It has been the common practice heretofore to temporarily disconnect one of the needle-barstrom its actuating mechanism bymanually controlled means and to re-connect said needlebar with its. actuating mechanism, under manual control, after a desired interval of operation, all without stopping of theV machine.`

' The present invention has-tor its primaryA object to provide automatically actingmeans for recoupling a needle-bar'with its actuating mechanism after a predetermined period oi: operation ci'` the machine subsequently to the throwing out ofaction under manual control of. the disconnected needlebar. y

Another lobject of this invention is to provide adjustable Ameans forvpredetermining the period that the disconnected needle-bar remains idle. y k i @ther and more specilicobjects ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description and claims. i y

ln its preferred embodiment, the present improvement comprises two needle-bars normally connected by a coupling-pintor unison reciprocation, said coupling-pin being `operatively connected with a treadie-actu-` a ratchet-aiid-pawlv ated lever through p mechanism constituting in effect a stitchcounting device. By means of the t-readlecontrol provided, one ot' the needle-bars may be thrown out of operation at any point-in the formation of a continuons seam, the operation of the treadle-actuated lever throwing the ,counting device into eiective action.v In the formation oit angular seams, the work may be turned the operator about the operative Vneedle While it is in the work, the counting-device being tripped by anadjustable: release-element whereby its actuating vmechanism is' rendered ineiective and the disconnected needle-bar is re-coupled With vthe other needle-bar at the propcr point toi form vcontinuous parallel seams. A j

In the accompanying;drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion'ot' a sewing machine in which the present improvements have been embodied, the counting' device being disconnected Jfrom'its actuating mechanism and ,the 4 needle-bars being coupled for unison reciprocation. Fig. 2 is a top-plan view of the bracket-arm ot' the machine and 'ot the normally inactive counting device y attached thereto. 'Figa 3 is a side elevation'o/the counting-device as viewed fromthe rear side of the machine. Fig.r i isa detail viewl of the ratchet-Wheel yactuatingpand,,together with its supportingbracket. `'Fig'.` 5 is av detailA sectional Yview of the ratchet-wheel and its support.

Referring to ,the drawings, there is illustrated only so,y much of ,the sewing machine asis deemed essential toan understaiidingoit the present invention.. The sewing machine .includes the usual overhanging .braclet-arm 1 terminating inthe head 2,',

in whichbracket-arm is journaled.thefrotary Amain or needle-reciprocating' shaft 3. .At its forward end, ythe shaft Scarriesthe usual crank-disk t, connected by means. 'of a link 5 with ast'ud 6 projecting laterallyl -from asplit-collar 7 clamped by means of ascrew 8 vupona main needle-bart). The needle-- bar 9 journaled jtor endwise reciprocation in suitable bearings provided in thehead 2 and is 'formed with La.longitudinal.rectanguf lar groove 10 in .which is slidingly disposed cer `as Y viewed an' auxiliary slab-sidedneedle-bar 11. A

slight clearance is provided in the collar 7 `ior the open side of the needle-barn, Whereby theneedle-ba'r `9 maybe reciprocated byr thev link 5independently ot the needle-bai" Secured by means of a screw y12 upon the lower end of the needle-bar 9 is a segmental collar 18 of a needle-holder 1,4 in which is suitably fastened a needle 15, and secured by means of screws, as 16, upon the needlefbar 11 vis a collar 1 7 of an auxil iary needle-holder 18y carrying a needle 19.

A collar 2O rigidly secured'upon the upper end of the, needle-bar 11 provides sufficient clearance for the needle-bar 9 to permit the latter to reciprooatewith respect thereto, a coupling-pin 21 vlosing slidingly disposed within a transverse aperture formed in said collar. The coupling-pin 21 is carried by a verticallyapertured slideblock 22-and is constantly disposed in an aperture 23 provided in the needle-bar 11, said coupling pin also normally entering an aperture 24 formed in the upper portion of the needle-bar 9 to compel reciprocation of said bars in unison. v' lhe slide-block 22 is adapted to reciprocate upon a vertical guide-rod`25 suitably iiXed upon one end of a horizontal vendwise-shiftable slide-bar 26 disposed within an aperture of a guide-strap 27 secured by screws, as 28, upon a bracket 29 `projecting from the head 2. Pivotally connected by means of a screw 3Q threaded into a stop-block 31 rigid with the slidebar 26 is one end of a lever 8 2 fulcrumed on thepivot-screw 88 upon the bracket 29. The other end of the lever 32 is pivotally connected by a screw 34 with one end of a link 35 of which the other end is connected in like manner, by means of a screw 36, with a swinging frame 37 fulcrumed upon a pivot-screw 38 threaded into an ear 39 on the base of a stationary bracket 40. The base of the bracket 40 is fastened by means of a screw 41 upon the overhanging arm 1 of the machineeadjacent the usual arm coverplate 42, and'a serves as a support for the ratchet-and-pawl mechanism constituting the counting-device about to be described.

Suitably secured in an aperture yprovided in the upper end of the swingingV fra-me 37, is an extension-pin 44 upon theprojecting end of which is secured a sleeve 45by means of aset-screw 46. The sleeve 45 is therefore rigid with the frame 37 and constitutes in effect a lateral extension thereof to afford a bearing for a ratchet-wheel 47 and an adjusting disk 48 disposed upon opposite sides of a peripheralerib 49 of Said sleeve.` The ratchet-wheel 47 has a lateral annular-flange 50 spaced from the hub thereof to adord a housing for a coiled torsion-spring 51, of which one end 52 enters an aperture in the ratchet-wheel and of which the outer coil is clamped against the sleeve 45 vby means of a washer 53and a screw `54 threaded into the sleeve. A por-tion of the periphery of the ratchet-wheel 47 is toothed and another portion thereofk is provided with al stopshou'lder 55, which under the 4action of the spring 5l normally engages the end of a curved arm 57 secured by means of a screw 58 upon the swinging` frame 3.7. The disk 48 is formed with an arcuate slot 59 so that it may be adjustably secured bymeans of a screw 6,9 upon the ratchet-wheel 47, said disk being provided with a trip-.lug 61 and with an indicating` pointer 62, which latter C1/verlies the graduated periphery of the ratchet-wheel.

Secured upon the base of the bracket 40, by means of a screw 63 is a stationary supporting arm 64 having a laterally offset upper end 65 upon which is pivotally mounted a latch-lever 66 by means of a pivot-screw 67. An apertured tail portion 68 of saidv latch-lever 66is entered by one end of a spring 69 secured by means of a screw 70 upon thearm 64. Ait its opposite end the latch-lever 66 is provided with a tripn iinger 71, positioned to be engaged by the trip-lug 61 under the action of the spring 69, said latch-lever also having a hook 72, adapted in the operative position of the lcounting device to latch the shank of a screw 7 3 threaded into the upper end of they swinging frame 37.

1n order to swing the frame 87 into operatlve positionvin which it is held for a preL determined period by the latch-lever 66, there is provided a bellcrank-lever 74, l

f'ulcrumed on the machine frame. The arm 74 of this lever is adapted to engage the under side of the curved arm 57 ofv the swinging frame 37 and the other arm 75 of said lever is connected with a suitable treadle (not shown). A coil-spring 76 secured at one end upon the arm 57 and at its opposite end upon a bracket 77 on the machine-arm functions to maintain the swinging frame in its forward kor unlatched position during the normal operation of the machine, i. e., with both needle-bars reciprocating in unison and the ratchet-wheel. 47 idle. When however the lever 74, 75 is actuated to render the counting mechanism operative, the ratchet-wheel is rotatively advanced one tooth for each reciprocation ot the needle.

The ratchet-wheel 47 is intermittently rotated under theaction of a pawl 7 8 pivotallv' mounted upon a vibratory arm 79 fulcrumed upon the bracket A40. The pawl 78 has a tail 80, normally pressed against a stop-pin 81 on the arm 79 by means of a spring 82 also upon the arm l79. The arm 79 has a ball-joint connection with one end of a pitman 83 of which the other end carries a stra-p l84 embracing an eccentric 85 upon the main-shaft 3. During the effective operation of the ratchet-wheel, retrograde movement thereof is preventedv by means of a. stop-pawl 86` which is pivotally mounted by means of a screw 87 upon an extension 68 of the bracket 40. A spring 89 presses the pawl 86v toward the ratchet-wheel, the

lli() li il ,tuating pawl 78.

laction ofthe "spring 89 being limitedin the inoperative position of the ratchet-wheel by v the engagement of the pawl 86 with the pawl 78. v

Buring` the normal voperation "of the machine, the swinging-frame 37 is in its forward position in which it is disengaged `trom the latch-lever 66 and in which the ratchet-wheel 47 is disengaged `from4 its ac- This position is determined'by the engagement of the firm 7e with thejspring-braclret 77, under the action of the spring 76. Then the'frame 37 attains this position, its movement therein-to isv transmitted to the link 35 which causes the coupling-pin 2l to engage the needlebar 9, whereupon both needle-bars reciprocate in unison as willV be self-evident.' lfVhile also capable of other uses, the'present improvement is'particularly well adapted for employment in the formation et angular seams comprising` independent rows of parallel stitches land serves to eliminate the superposed and s'l-:ipped stitchesv at the seem-angle incidental yto the throwing into operation under manual control of the disvconnected needle-bar at the improper time. 'Consequently the present improvement not only speeds production by reason of itsl semi-automatic character, but it lincreases the sight-liness ot the product. y

With both needle-bars` 1n operation, as

the stitching approaches the point where the seams are to change their direction, the operator manipulates the treadle to act-nate the lever 741, 7 5 to swing the frame 37 against the action of the spring 7 6 into position wherein it is held letchedby the lever G6 and wherein the pewls 7,8 and 86 are in operative engagement with:v the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. rlihis movement of the vframev 27 causes the. linll: 35 to nncouple the pin 21 iroi'i'i'the needle-ber Obviously, however, the needle-bar ll, while idle, should preferably occupy vsubstai'itially the position of its upper lini'iof sti-olie. To insure that the needle-ha ll will be carried into this posiien when Lin-coupled from the other needlei bei', regardless yof the uncoupling, position, the needle-bar 9-is partially cut away at its upper end to provide shoulders 90, overlying which are the shoulders 90 formed by correspondingly enlarging` the needle-bar l1.

in order to prevent the uncoupled needlebar ll from following,` the needle-bar 9 in the letters succeeding dewnward movement, under the slidingv iriction'al engagement between the bars, lthere is provided a stopinger 9i which in this position' of the parts underlies the slide-block y22. Should the needle-bar ll be unceupled from the needlebar 9 vnearfthe lower limit of stroke of said bars,the stop-linger 91 mayf'yield sufliciently te permit the carrying of the needle-bar llv into its yupper limit of movement, by'reason matically re'couple the tworneedleunison reeiprecation. f lVhen the ratchetofthe sligghtlyresilient character of 'the shank of the stop-finger 91;; The shank et the stop-finger 91 is secured'by means of a screw 92 in an aperturedce'llar 93 suitably fixed upon a supporting rod 9i fastened in the head 2 of the machine.'v

lVhil'e the' stop-finger 91 -prevents a downward movement of the uncoupled needlebar 1.1, the sliding frictional engagement between the needle-bars also has a 'tendency to raise said uncoupled needle-bar ll above `the limit of its normal up stroke.i VTo pretion of a coilspring99`."'

cri

Then the needle-bar. ll' is uncoupledifrcm the needle-bar '9 by the Vmmement of 'the swinging frame 37 by manual operation of the lever 74a 75 the Plwl v78 'will thereafter ff' rotatively advanceV the ratchet-wheel one tooth tor each succeeding reci irocation ol the needle-bar 9, whereby the trip-lug' nl is caused to approach the finger 7l ofthe latch-lever 6G and the stop-shoulder'-5 is'.

Ca'l'l'ef-lawa'y ffOm the end of the arm' The distance between the needles 'sindv the length of the stitches Vare'jl'actorsdetermin-y ing the point when the needle-baril must be recoupled with the needle-ber `9 yand to accommodate these conditions, the trip-lug;`

61 may be adjusted by a repositioningl ot.

the disk 4:8 with` respect to the ratchetwhe'el. The work having been turned by `the operator at the proper time, the latchlever 66 is thereafter tripped bythe lug` 6l,

whereupon the spring '76 sw'ii`ig j ;s the frame into its inoperative position to thereby entowheel swin'os awayl freni the stop-pawl 8G,

the spring el promptlj/J7 rotates `the'ratcliewheel into initielrkposii )n determi ed the engagement of the stop-should the end oi the erm 57.

tive .position is limited by a' stop-lug 100 provided .on said trame adjacent its pivotaxis, the stop-lug; 'lGO'beingg jfesed to invention, what I claim herein is `l. In ya sewing reciprocating said bar, manuallycontrolled means operable during the operation of the "machine for at will 'disconnectim?,` said bar fromr its reciprocating means, end automatically, operatingmeans for 'recoupling the i' l Preferably the movement of the swingingr frame into el eramachine, in combination,` a neeulc-carrying` bannieans for endwise disconnected needle-bar with yits reciprocating means after a predetermined interval of operation of the machine.

2. In a multiple-needle sewing machine, the combination with a plurality of needle bars, and means for reciprocating said needle/*bars in unison, of means operable during the operation of the machine lor at will disconnecting one o'said needle-hars from its reciprocating means during the continued reciprocationl of the other needlebar, and automaticallyoperating means for recoupling the disconnected needle-bar with its reciprocating means after a predetermined intervaloi operation ofthe machine.

3. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle-carrying bar, means for endwise reciprocating said bar, manually controlled means operable during the operation of the machine for at will disconnecting said bar from its reciprocating; means, and a counting-device thrown intor eti'ective action by the operation of said manually controlled means for predetermining the period o'l inactivity of the disconnected bar. y

4l. In a sewing machine, the combination with two needle-bars normally coupled for reciprocation in unison, and manually controlled means for disconnecting one ci said needle-bars from the other during the continued operation of the machine, of automaticallyl operating` means for recoupling said disconnected needle-bar with the continuously reciprocated bar, and adjustable means for predetermining the period'of inactivity of the disconnected bar.

5. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle-carrying bar, means for endwise reciprocating said bar, manually controlled means operable during the v operation oflthe machine for at will disconnecting said bar from its reciprocating means, means acting to compel said needle-bar when disconnected :from its reciprocating means to occupy suby stantially the position o'l its upper limit of stroke, and automatic means for recoupling the disconnected needle-bar with its reciprocating means after a predeterminedperiod of operation of the machine.

6. In a multiple needlesewing machine, the combination with a plurality of needle-y bvars, and means for normally reciprocating said needle-bars in unison, of a normally ineffective ratchet-and-pawl mechanism, a treadle actuated lever to at' will render said mechanism effective and simultaneously disconnect one of said needle-bars from its reyciprocating means, and automatically actva -normally ineffective' actuating pawlthefreweer the combination with a plurality of needlebars'fand for no ally recipro said'bars in unison,y of a 1a for, manually controlled means for relatively shifting said ratchet-wheel and pawl during the operation'of the machine to eli- :iiect an intermittent vrotary movement of said ratchet-.wheel and to simultaneously disconnect' one lof said needle-bars' fromv its reciprocating means, means for latching said ratchet-and-pawl mechanism effective ratchet-'driving position, and means 'for tripping said latchingr1 means' after a predetermined interval of opration of the machine' to thereby effect a recouplifng of the disconnected needle-bar with its reciprocatins' means. v

' 8. 'In a two-needle sewmo' machine the combination" withy two needle-bars and means for coupling said needlebars' for reciprocation in unison, of treadle'operated lever for uncoupling one orp said needleebars from and during the continued reciproca'- tion of theother, means forlatcliin'g Y"the t said uncoupling meanswhereby ythe discon nected needlebar is held: inactive for apredetermined interval of operation' of the other needle-liar, andv automatically acting means for tripping said l'atching meansv to thereby reconnect the neeclle-ba1-s'i^"orv unison reciprocation. f I I' 9. In a sewing machine, the combination with two needle-bars, means for reciprocating one of said bars, a coupling-element 'for connecting` the needle-bars yfor unison reciprocation, a ,swinging-frame operatiyely connected with said coupling element, means yieldingly holding said yiframe inlneedle-bar coupling` position, a treadl'e'pperated'lever for swinging said frame t thereby shift the coupling element to uncouple the needlebars, meansvv for latching said frame in needle-bar uncoupled position, `and' means for automaticallyl tripping said latching means. f

l0. In a sewing machine, the combination with two needle-bars, means for reciprocating one of said bars, a colliding-element for connecting the needle-bars for `unison reciprocation, a swinging-frame operatively connected with said coupling-element, means yieldingly holding-- said-frame in needle-bar coupling position, al t readle-opera'tedr lever for swinging said frame to thereby shift'the coupling element to uncouple the 'needlebars, means for latching said frame in needle-bar uncoupled position, means for automatically tripping said lat-ching means,

`and adjustable meansy for predetermining the time of action of said tripping' means.

ll. In a sewing machine, the combination with two needle-bars, means forleciprocating one osaid barsga c'uplimgeleinentfor connecting said ,needle-bars f o'r ,unison reciproc-ation, a swinging-frame operatively connected with said coupiing-element, a

ratchet-Wheel carried by said frame, a continuously reciprocated ratchet-Wheel actuating pawl, means for yieldingly holding said frame in needle-bar coupling` position whereby said paWl is ineffective to `actuace the ratchet-Wheel, means operable at will. during the Operation of the machine foi 10 swinging said frame to thereby shift the coupling-element to uncouple Jche need1ebars and to render said pawl effective upon said ratchet-Wheel, means foi' latching said frame in needle-bar uncoupled position, and mea-ns rendered effectivevhy vsaid ratchet- Wheel for automatically tripping said latching means.A l.

In testimony whereof,- I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN KERK. 

